WEBVTT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM. WE ARE LIVE FROM THE THIRD BASE SIDE OF THE RIVER CATS. YOU CAN SEE THE GROUND CREW IS GETTING THINGS PREPARED. IT IS SCHEDULED FOR 7:05 BUT THE FIRST PITCH WILL PROBABLY GET UNDERWAY AT 7:15. THIS IS THE RIVER CATS' HOME OPENER. THE RIVER CATS HAVE STRUGGLED ON THE ROAD BUT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN TURN THINGS AROUND. IN THEIR FIRST-TEAM SEASON, THE SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS TAKING BATTING PRACTICE TODAY BEFORE THEIR THREE-GAME SERIES WITH THE SALT LAKE CITY BEES. AS ALWAYS, SOME OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS' ON A LEAK SYSTEM WILL CALL WEST SACRAMENTO HOME. IN HIS SECOND SEASON AS THE RIVER CATS' MANAGER, STEVE SCARSONI IS HOME. THE ROAD TRIP DID NOT NECESSARILY GO THE WAY WE PLANNED, BUT OPENING UP ON THE ROAD WITH A LOT OF NEW FACES HERE THIS YEAR. GUYS HAVE TO GET USED TO EACH OTHER AND FIGURE EACH OTHER OUT. WE AS A STAFF ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PLAYERS. I THOUGHT WE LEARNED A LOT ON THE ROAD. WE GOT A CHANCE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER. I THOUGHT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE ROAD CUP -- THE ROAD TRIP. RICK RODRIGUEZ HAS PITCHED FOUR YEARS IN THE MAJORS AND IS THE RIVER CATS' PITCHING COACH. FOR THE ORGANIZATION WE HAVE A PITCH COUNT AND WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO THAT. I GO TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PITCHER